Former Liverpool co-owner George Gillett Jr. has died at the age of 87, marking the end of a long, multifaceted career in sports ownership across three major sporting ventures.
Geoff Molson, current owner of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, announced the news after confirming the passing of the American businessman. Gillett famously owned the Canadiens between 2001 and 2009 before selling the franchise to the Molson family. His three-year spell at Anfield alongside fellow American tycoon Tom Hicks remains one of the most turbulent and divisive eras in Liverpool’s modern history.
Tributes paid to former Canadiens owner
Molson led tributes on behalf of the Canadiens organisation, highlighting Gillett’s personal commitment to the franchise and the city during his eight-year tenure as owner.
"On behalf of the entire Canadiens organisation, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to George's family," Molson said in an official statement.
"George immersed himself in the Montreal community and was appreciated by everyone in the organization. We sincerely appreciate his contributions to the Montreal Canadiens during his time as owner."
While supporters in Montreal remember Gillett for breathing financial life into the Canadiens, his time on Merseyside unfolded in starkly different fashion.
The turbulent Anfield era and public Infighting
Gillett acquired a 50 per cent stake in Liverpool in February 2007 alongside Hicks, purchasing David Moores’ controlling shares and taking over the club in a leveraged buy-out. Although the pair initially promised extensive transfer backing and a new stadium in Stanley Park, mounting bank debts and severe boardroom infighting quickly unravelled their ownership.
By early 2008, the relationship between Gillett and Hicks had deteriorated beyond repair. Speaking openly to Canadian radio station Fan590 in March 2008, Gillett laid bare the breakdown at the top of the club.
"This partnership has been unworkable for some time, but not because of us," Gillett admitted. "We tried to be co-operative, and we tried to be supportive. But when your public persona is more important than the facts, that makes it difficult to have a rational relationship."
Gillett revealed that he had attempted to broker a clean exit for himself, offering Hicks the first opportunity to purchase his half of the club.
"We were very fair," Gillett explained. "We gave our partner a long period of time to try to make arrangements to buy us out. We didn't put pressure on him, but he ultimately did not get to the finish line."
Fan Hostility and the Failed Dubai Deal
As fan protests intensified outside Anfield, the hostility from supporters effectively ruled out any transaction between the two partners.
"The fans' reaction has been so negative towards him—and towards us if we sold to him—that it has now made that an untenable alternative for us," Gillett said.
Instead, Gillett attempted to sell his share to Dubai International Capital (DIC), a move that Hicks actively blocked. Gillett identified that veto as the definitive breaking point in their relationship and a primary catalyst for supporter fury.
"He threatened to block me selling to Dubai International Capital that was certainly one of the things that made the fans upset," Gillett noted. "Lord knows DIC have the money; with oil prices going up every day, that's not an issue. They certainly have the history, and they are fans. I think they would have been very responsible owners. But making that not possible or difficult didn't endear people to the fans."
High court battle and FSG takeover
The mounting refinancing debts nearly pushed Liverpool into administration by late 2010. Following a high-stakes legal battle in the High Court, independent chairman Sir Martin Broughton and the Liverpool board forced through a takeover deal to Fenway Sports Group (then New England Sports Ventures), effectively ending the Gillett and Hicks regime.
Gillett’s passing at 87 follows the death of his former business partner Tom Hicks, who passed away at the age of 70. Both figures whose high-leverage takeover reshaped Liverpool's financial trajectory have now passed away within months of each other.
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